Under
the administration of James S. Gilmore, III (1998–2002), Virginia's Executive
Mansion underwent an extensive renovation in 1999–2000. Originally designed
by architect Alexander Parris and first occupied in 1813, the structure is the longest continuously
occupied governor's residence in the United States and has gone through a number
of changes over the years. The mansion is a National Historic Landmark.

First Lady Roxane Gilmore oversaw the seven million dollar renovation that
restored the historic public rooms on the first floor, modernized and expanded
the second floor family residence, updated security and building systems,
improved the grounds, and made the entire structure wheelchair accessible. The
demolition and reconstruction work, carefully undertaken by skilled
professionals, revealed elements of the building's historic fabric. Some of
these aspects of the Executive Mansion's construction and decoration had not
been visible for nearly two centuries.

As part of the restoration, the Commonwealth's Department of Historic Resources hired the firm of Sadler &
Whitehead, Architects, PLC, to document the entire project, especially those
previously hidden aspects of construction and ornamentation, using photography
and descriptive commentary. Excavation, demolition, conservation, and new
construction were all copiously documented by Mary Harding Sadler and Joseph D. Lahendro. Their materials include not only written information about their
observations, but also hundreds of photographs capturing original interiors,
decorative items, and structural elements of the Executive Mansion, Guest
House/Cottage, Carriage House, and grounds.

The Executive Mansion Rehabilitation Project Database is part of the
Sadler and Whitehead, Architects, Papers, 1992–2002 (Accession 41826).
This collection consists of documentary materials related to the
restoration and rehabilitation of the Virginia Executive Mansion, Guest
House/Cottage, Carriage House, and grounds in 1999.